Welcome, my name is April, the creator of Griffin Grief Solutions. When you hear the word grief, what comes to mind? When I think of grief, I think of the deep emotional pain that comes from loss or change. However, grief is not just the loss of a loved one. Grief can stem from various sources such as losing aspects of ourselves, like our job, trust, approval, or identity. Grief is the loss of anything that interrupts our life and impacts it in a negative way. Reflecting on what we have lost along the way can help us understand our own experiences of grief and begin the healing process.

I am not a stranger to grief. I have experienced many of the same types of loss as you. Such as a job, divorce, grandparents, and parent to name a few. Then I experienced loss on a whole new level when I lost my sister and nephews to suicide. Like the rest of us my sister had experienced loss. My family and I thought she was managing her loss well until one day she wasn’t. One day the loss my sister experienced became more than she could manage. One day I received her suicide text that said she hadn’t wanted to be alive for a while but couldn’t leave her lovies behind. So, she didn’t. She took the lives of my nephews and then her own life. I was stunned, in complete shook and overwhelmed by the thought of how profoundly sad she must have felt to believe that this was her only choice. I had failed her; I hadn’t been there to walk alongside her. I became extremely depressed. I was completely lost in my grief. For years I merely functioned. I still had to care for my family and go to work, but I had no quality of life, no time to grieve. I became afraid of what I would lose when I worked through my grief. One day I woke realizing I had experienced loss yet again. I had lost TIME. Time with family, time doing hobbies I enjoy, and time turning this profound loss into something positive. I have been fortunate and continue to be blessed with people who have supported me, offering encouragement and acknowledging my loss and pain. Now it is my turn to do that for you. So, I ask, what have you lost along the way? Do not lose any more time. As a certified grief coach and well versed in psychology, I can walk alongside you on your journey. Your journey from grief to gratitude.